Welcome to ” Puppy Care and Health” this site devoted to care and health of puppies, man’s favorite creature can also be man’s biggest nightmare. Hopefully you can find a article, video, ebook or a product that can not only care and protect that new puppy, but make life a little easier for you.

This site consists of puppy articles, videos dealing with all sort of puppy information and products that you can price check with, find new interesting ideas or just browse on. If you have comments or some puppy words of wisdom, please include them on “Home Comments Page”. If you’re looking for some free ebooks or information on puppies or other pets please check out FREE-EBOOKS-CANADA our sister site. Help Your self. As this site grows information and links we be posted on comments page or additional pages. Take Care! and enjoy your puppy.

Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Breed for You

So, you’ve decided that you want a pet.  That pet will be a dog - a puppy to be more exact.  Now it’s time for the bigger decision that needs to be made.  What breed of dog will your puppy be?

The “breed” decision comes with many considerations.  First of all, a potential dog owner needs to think about their own personality as well as the personality of their new best friend.  Puppies and their owners should be compatible.

If you are an active, outgoing person, you’ll want a puppy who is the same way.  Choosing a breed of dog that is, for lack of a better word, lazy or likes to stay in the house would be an incompatible decision.  A few good choices for an active person are breeds like Retrievers or Collies.  These breeds of dog are loyal, like to run, and are friendly around other people.

If your looking for a family friendly puppy, you may not want to start out with a large breed puppy if you have small children.  Large dogs can accidentally injure children and the elderly during play.  If the dog is territorial, like an Akita or a German Shepherd, they may make good guard dogs for your family, but will more than likely not be the best play companions for younger children.

Small breed puppies are more compatible with children and small living spaces.  They remain indoor dogs for the most part and as long as they get lots of love, attention and exercise, these smaller puppies do well.  Choose a breed like Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Beagle, or Pekingese.  They love the attention they get from people and are overall friendly companions.

Many people want a puppy companion, but don’t have the time or don’t want a puppy that will shed a lot.  If you or someone in your house has allergies to pet dander a long haired dog is probably out of the question as well.  The puppy for you will have short or smooth body hair that only sheds on occasion which will leave your home cleaner.  If you want a long-haired breed of puppy, be prepared for vacuuming often, maybe even every day in order to keep the hair under control.  Breeds like Weimaraner, Greyhound, Great Dane, Pug, and Dachshund have coats that are sleek and resist constant shedding and are probably the best choice for someone who wants a short haired breed of dog.

You’ll also want to determine the sex of your new puppy.  While in most breeds, the male is more aggressive, this is not true of all breeds.  Males are thought to be more protective of the home and females as well as children, but both genders can have these characteristics.  The gender of your puppy is a choice that is up to you. 

To get an idea of what breeds of puppy other owners have chosen, here is a list that may come in handy.  Some of the most popular breeds on this list may be one or two that you have considered already, yourself.   

Ten of the most popular dog breeds:

  • Labrador Retriever
  • German Shepherd
  • Golden Retriever
  • Beagle
  • Akita Inu
  • Poodle
  • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Brittany Spaniel
  • Boxer
  • Boston Terrier

The puppy breed you choose is something you should think about awhile before jumping on the cutest breed or the biggest.  Don’t make a hasty decision when it comes to choosing your new best friend.  An incompatible pup could spell disaster for you and the puppy, so choose carefully.

Where to Get your Puppy

You know that you want to have a puppy for a companion.  But, where do you get a puppy?  There are a few places that will provide a good variety and a few places that you should probably try to avoid.

Owners want a puppy that is happy and healthy.  The health and temperament of your new puppy depends in part on how well he has been cared for before you acquire him.  Puppies that have been neglected or abused can become problem cases down the road.

One place to consider purchasing your puppy from is a dog breeder.  Reputable breeders make a point of giving their dogs the utmost care.  Confirm with the breeder that vaccinations and other preventive care measures have been taken and that puppy has papers.  Papers certify his breed as what the breeder claims him to be.

You can find breeders through referrals from friends and family.  If they are happy with the puppy they have, many will happily recommend their breeder to you.  The breeder may not carry the breed of puppy you are looking for, but they, in turn, can recommend the appropriate puppy breeder or a purebred rescue group looking for owners.

Many puppies are dropped off by owners at the humane society.  The humane society has gotten a bad rap as a place for unwell strays and difficult dogs.  This is not always so.  Many puppies end up at humane societies because their previous owner didn’t take their decision to have a pet seriously.  Many times it’s something as simple as the previous owner got sick and could no longer care for the animal properly, but otherwise the animal is healthy and was well cared for and loved prior being taken to the humane society.  There can be many other reasons a puppy may end up in a humane society, so be sure to ask lots of questions about any puppy you may be considering getting.

The humane society shelters puppies that are waiting for you to give them a good home.  You may even find a purebred amongst the group.  Still choose carefully.  Don’t choose a large breed puppy because he gives you the “droopy eye” and later find out that he barks all night to your neighbor’s dismay.

In your puppy search, steer clear of pet shops and puppy factories.  Pet shops are usually supplied by puppy factories.  These breeders do it for the money and only the money.  In some cases, they are ignorant of any knowledge about the dogs they breed. 

This could spell doom for your puppy if he is predisposed to any life-threatening diseases.  Veterinarians can perform preventive care on breeds that can suffer certain conditions.  With pet shops or side-of-the-road breeders, you may not know what you are getting and therefore can’t head off disaster for your companion.

Knowing where to buy a puppy is as important as what breed of puppy to buy.  Take advice from trusted friends about reputable breeders.  If in doubt, visit the humane society or dog rescue groups.  They will be glad to help in your search for the perfect puppy companion.

 

Choosing a Name for Puppy

What will you call your new companion?  He may be brown with long ears, short, with a coat like a snowball, or tall and muscular.  Choosing a name is a big decision.  It will belong to your puppy for the rest of his life.

As humans, we select names for our children based on heritage and meaning.  You can do this with your puppy, but it is not necessary.  Puppy doesn’t care that “Lily” is a beautiful flower or that “Jack” has English origins.  He just wants to know what you want him to respond to when you call.

One rule of thumb for puppy naming is to keep it simple.  It may be cute and unusual to name a dog “Crouching Tiger”, but it isn’t practical.  If names are too long, puppy won’t remember it and others might not either.  One simple rule to make choosing a name for your puppy easier is to keep it to three or less syllables.

Also, think about what your puppy’s name may sound like to him or her.  If it sounds like a command, he may take off running or jump at the mailman instead of sitting down.  Puppy names that are similar to the commands you give can be confusing to your pup.  If you use these commands:  sit, run, stop, quiet, stay, heel, roll over, and fetch, don’t use puppy names like Fletch, Kit, Sun, Bill, and Cole.

Pets are not people but they do deserve respect as another member of the family.  You are supposed to be welcoming them into your home and your life.  Names like Butt, Loser, Dummy, and Nitwit are demeaning.  They encourage teasing from others who come in contact with your puppy.  Most animals don’t like to be teased, especially dogs.  They can respond by biting or pouncing on the unfortunate teaser.  Not to mention, would you want someone calling you a demeaning name?  Your puppy won’t like it either.

Dog experts recommend short names that end in vowel sounds.  Most commands don’t end in vowel sounds, so puppy won’t get confused when he’s called.  If you own a Dachshund, you can name him “Hero” like a hero sandwich.  These dogs always remind me of a sausage without the bun.  The name is short, easy to remember, and not disrespectful to puppy.

Below is a list of the more popular names for dogs.  Choose a name from this list or come up with your own.

  • Max
  • Lady
  • Lucy
  • Princess
  • Rusty
  • Rocky
  • Buster
  • Shelby
  • Jake
  • Ginger
  • Sandy
  • Sophie
  • Sparky
  • Buddy
  • Missy

Take your time when naming puppy.  Consider his behavior and personality, but above all, treat him with dignity when it comes to naming him.  He’ll thank you for taking the time to consider a good name for many years to come.

 

Preparing for Puppy

Bringing puppy home is a momentous occasion.  Everyone looks forward to the new addition to the family.  But, before puppy comes home, there are a few things you need to make sure that you purchase.

Most of the items that you purchase for puppy will be one-time purchases.  Acquiring these items on sale at pet department stores can save a ton of money.  Clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper provide cost-cutting savings for the new pet owner as well.

Puppies need a balanced diet.  Don’t buy puppy food because the commercials say that pets deserve gourmet food.  Puppy won’t be sitting at the table with a bib around his neck.  A simple bag of puppy formula kibble will do.

Dry food is recommended for puppies.  The brand that you choose is based on nutritious ingredients.  Buying the generic doggie kibble is not always the best choice.  If you need help, ask your vet for suggestions.

Bowls for water and food are needed for feedings.  One set will do and they don’t have to be fancy, just durable.  Place them in the area where puppy will regularly receive his meals.

Puppy will also need somewhere to sleep.  It may be cute the first few weeks to have puppy in the bed with you, but that will get real old real quick.  Puppy can toss and turn as he likes in his own bed.  Puppy may go through several beds before it’s all said and done so spending a lot on the first one is not advised.

A crate is where puppy will stay when traveling and when he needs to stay in one area of the house.  The crate should allow for growth but not be so large that puppy is scared of it.  Later, you will show puppy how to make nice with his second home.

Whenever puppy ventures outdoors, he will need to wear a leash.  Leashes come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.  Puppy’s leash should allow room for growth.  It just needs to keep puppy from getting away, not necessarily make a fashion statement.  Besides puppy will probably chew on his leash the first few times you put it on him anyway, so spending a fortune on one, is not always a good choice. 

To satisfy his chewing habits, give puppy some chew toys.  Ones made for dogs are safer than giving him a real bone to gnaw on.  Pieces of the bone could chip off and cause a choking hazard for puppy.  Chew toys like bouncing balls could pose a choking hazard as well if they are smaller than puppy’s jaws.  So, be conscious about puppies play toys to make them fun, but more importantly, safe for puppy.

Puppies need a lot of love and care.  He incurs expenses even before his arrival.  To make sure that puppy’s first day with you is an enjoyable one for everyone involved, stock up on everything that he needs before bringing him home.

 

 


Online Pet Resources

You don’t have to get in your car and drive to the library to research puppies.  On the weekend, or whenever you and your family are all in one place, gather around the computer.  Here are some Internet resources that provide all you ever wanted to know about puppies.

Check out the Internet site sponsored by the humane society.  Type the address www.hsus.org into your browser.  This site offers information on all animals not just puppies.  If you are trying to decide if you can handle a puppy, look here.  Free articles offer information on subjects ranging from what you need to know before adopting a pet to how to choose a veterinarian. 

When you have decided to get a dog, it’s important to know what breed of puppy works best for you.  There are sites on the Internet that are dedicated to dog breeding information.  They can help you in your search.

One such site is the Dog Breed Info Center.  Their website address is www.dogbredinfo.com.  This site lists the names of various dog breeds, along with pictures and statistical information.

If you aren’t acquainted with breeds, you can search according to size.  The information found there is concise, but thorough.  Find out about life expectancy, adult habits, health issues, breed background, and grooming needs.  This particular website is a one stop shop when it comes to learning more about various puppies.  They also offer general articles on puppy and adult dog care.

Once you get your puppy, the learning doesn’t stop there.  From day to day you might have questions about your new puppy’s care or some odd behaviors that you notice.  Life with puppy will be an adventure all the way through and you can find plenty of information regarding your new companion at the following places.

Learn how to grow along with puppy at the Raising Spot.  You can find them at www.raisingspot.com.  Here, all the mysteries of puppy life are revealed.  They offer helpful hints on various training for puppy, relationships between puppy and your young ones, and puppy behavior.

Are you a puppy owner that is into the lighter side of life?  Check out Dog Channel.  Here you can find out about the latest trends in dog fashion, dog toys, and what people around the world are teaching their dogs.  Post a picture of your pup for the entire world to see.  This site is user friendly and chock full of free information and ads that will enhance puppy’s life and yours.  Their site address is www.dogchannel.com.

You can learn tons about puppies without ever having to leave the house.  Tune into these websites and become more knowledgeable about man’s best friend.


Housetraining your Puppy

It would be great if puppies came to us knowing all there was to know.  Unfortunately one of the things they don’t already know is where to go to the bathroom.  This article details how new owners can housetrain puppy.

Dogs are creatures of habit.  Giving them a routine makes them comfortable.  It also makes housetraining easier to learn when things are done in the same way and at the same time everyday. 

Puppies need to go to the bathroom more often when they are young.  They still need time to grow into their bodies.  So, how do you know how often to take puppy to the potty?  Simply, take puppy’s age and add one.  This equals the number of hours that puppy can wait before needing to visit the “little puppy’s room”. 

Set feeding times when you can be home to take puppy to the bathroom.  The hard part will be to maintain the same schedule on the weekends.  You may be tempted to sleep in, but for the sake of puppy and the various corners of your home, keep to the status quo.

Offer puppy praise and discipline when he deserves it.  When it is time to go outside, lead puppy to the area that you have designated as his bathroom.  Be patient while he does his business.  Think up a command to use each time he goes to the bathroom.  Afterwards, praise him for doing well.

Do this as many times a day as you need to in order for puppy to remember the spot.  This includes using the same route to reach the back yard.  Keeping everything the same will help speed up the process and make it easier for puppy to learn.  Be patient with puppy as he learns this all new routine.

Puppy will make mistakes.  If he is nervous or afraid, this can lead to his using the bathroom in the house where he is not supposed to go.  Yelling at puppy will only make the situation worse.  Rubbing his nose in his mess, besides being gross, is no way to discipline puppy. 

Wait until puppy is somewhere else in the room and then clean up his mistake.  Continue with your housetraining routine as before.  Cleaning up all of the mess keeps puppy from coming back to that spot later.  He is little, but he will learn.

Watch for tell-tale signs that puppy is ready to go to the bathroom.  He may whine, scratch at the floor or the door, or wiggle.  Don’t trust puppy to make it outside by himself.  If he starts to go in the house, scoot him outside quickly to the bathroom area so he can finish.

Housetraining puppy can be trying at times and patience is a virtue in this case.  As you continue with the routine, your hard work will pay off with a well trained puppy.


Stop Puppy from Chewing

Puppies love to chew - on anything.  Chewing can cost you thousands of dollars in damaged furniture and household goods.  Follow a few simple tips to keep puppy’s teeth free of your valuables.

Puppies are so lovable.  People are entertained when puppy chews on a sock as if it were a snake in the brush.  He wags his tail at it, pounces, and then chews until it lies in tatters on the floor.  Puppy suddenly becomes less lovable when it is your Italian leather couch he is munching on.  A lot of the expense incurred by pet owners comes as a result of chewing.  Puppies chew the most when you either aren’t home or aren’t looking.

The first step to curbing the chewing habit is to puppy proof your home.  Keep puppy confined to areas of the house where you have no valuables.  Don’t leave your puppy alone even when you are in the house.  When puppy is in the room with you, use a baby gate to prevent him from wandering around.

Use a curio cabinet for collectibles and other trinkets.  Coffee tables need to be free of vases, flowers, and other things.  Store these things in higher places where puppy can’t reach or knock them over.  If puppy gets a hold of marbles, coins, or small kid’s toys, he could choke while chewing on them, so be sure these small things are picked up and out of puppy’s reach at all times.

Puppies chew when they are excited.  It is a way of releasing pent up energy.  He doesn’t know that he has done anything wrong unless you tell him so.  If puppy does chew on stuff in the house, don’t spank him.  He may be responding to your behavior.  Leaving and entering the house showing a lot of emotion (waving wildly at puppy) will get puppy hyped up.  Not knowing what to do with his heightened emotional level, he will begin chewing on stuff. 

Give puppy a chew toy.  When he must chew, he will chew on something that is meant to be used for chewing.  Nylafloss is a piece of nylon rope that helps to clean puppy’s teeth while he is releasing his emotional energy.

Another way to help puppy stay calm is to be calm.  Resist the urge to broadcast to puppy that you are leaving for work.  When you come in forget the fanfare and be as quiet as possible. 

Puppies are excitable creatures.  This excitement can cause them to chew everything in sight.  To avoid destruction and mayhem, stay calm around your puppy and remember; this too shall pass.  With a bit of consistency and forethought, training your puppy to only chew on his chew toys will pay off.

Get Rid of Fleas on Puppy

When you have pets that live both indoors and outdoors, you run the risk of fleas.  Fleas not only attack your pets, but also the other people living in the house.  Here are a few ways to rid your puppy and yourself of this miniscule menace.

Fleas are a fact of life for animals.  Your puppy will get them if he ever goes outdoors.  Fleas are small, so they can jump from puppy to another surface like the couch and then to you.  

Fleas bite - hard.  For most puppies, the bites are irritating and cause scratching.  For some puppies, the bites cause flea bite dermatitis.  This condition is miserable for puppy.  The bites result in a severe allergic reaction that can lead to anemia and even tapeworm infestation.

Once fleas have infested your puppy, they can be the devil to get rid of.  Some owners use flea baths, over-the-counter pesticides, and flea collars.  These work for some, but not for all.  Also, over-the-counter remedies can be dangerous to puppy and your family.

Flea products like growth regulators and pesticides attack the flea eggs and the adult insect, respectively.  Growth regulators take a few weeks to work, but produce non-viable egg offspring from the adult fleas.  Killing the adult insects doesn’t guarantee that the eggs will die as well. 

If the infestation is severe, a stronger substance may be warranted.  Before buying anything, consult with your veterinarian to find out the best course of treatment.  The items that they carry are safer than what is found in the stores.

Flea combs are also a good course of treatment.  Combing puppy’s fur once or twice a week can rid him of harmful fleas.  Comb him when he comes in from outdoors before he has a chance to jump on everything in the house.

Cleaning puppy’s normal haunts on a regular basis will cut down on problems with fleas as well.  This includes puppy’s bed, his blanket, his crate, and his toys.  Vacuuming the rugs and the furniture keeps fleas away from others in the household.

If you decide to treat your home for fleas consult a professional.  Using substances like borate powder can be dangerous.  Inhaling the powder can make everyone very sick.  Professional application is the only way to go.

Fleas are a nuisance.  They can love puppy to an irritating distraction.  Protect puppy as best you can through routine cleaning, combing and visits to the vet.